Methods for connecting intermediate stator coil leads

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus are provided for generating and connecting an intermediate lead wire extending between multiple portions of a coil wound on a pole of a stator core to a slotted terminal mounted on the stator core. Such stator cores, wound by coil winding shuttles, are used in electric motors, generators and similar devices. An intermediate lead wire extending between multiple portions of a coil is first captured by a hook mechanism, aligned with a slotted terminal, and then inserted in the terminal by a wire insertion device. The wire is then held in engagement with the terminal while the next portion of the coil is begun, producing an intermediate lead wire connection wherein a first portion of the lead wire is engaged within a slot in the terminal and the portion extending from the terminal to the next coil portion is wrapped tightly against the exterior of the terminal. In accordance with the principles of this invention, no cutting of the intermediate lead wire is required.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 07/809,233, filed Dec. 17,1991 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,751, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FORCONNECTING INTERMEDIATE STATOR COIL LEADS; which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 07/529,183, filed May 25, 1990, entitled METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR CONNECTING INTERMEDIATE STATOR COIL LEADS, abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for making stators forelectric motors and similar machines such as generators. Although theinvention is described herein in the context of its application toelectric motor stators, it will be understood that it is equallyapplicable to other types of stators having intermediate lead wiresextending from multiple coil portions wound on each stator pole.

Intermediate terminals extending from multiple coil portions wound on astator pole are frequently required on electric motors for commutatingmotor speed and for other requirements. While in recent years machineshave been developed to automatically wind stator coils and to connectthe lead wires to terminal boards mounted on the stator core, forexample, Pearsall U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,418, these machines cannot be usedto automatically mount intermediate lead wires on the terminal board.Other methods and apparatus for automatically mounting the ends ofstator windings to terminal boards are described in several patents,such as Fischer U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,113, Fischer U.S. Pat. No.4,553,319, and Reiger, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,764. While all of thesedevices have in common the capability to mount the ends of the statorcoil windings to the terminal boards, none is capable of automaticallymounting intermediate lead wires. Prior to this invention, intermediatelead wires were generated by interrupting the automatic operation of thewinding machine and grasping a strand of wire between the coil portionsmounted on a stator. When the winding operation was complete, the strandof wire was manually secured to the terminal board.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to providemethods and apparatus for automatically connecting the intermediate leadwires from multiple coil portions wound on a stator pole to terminalmeans mounted on the stator terminal board.

Another problem is that the previously known machines described in theabove patents had to be designed and built for specific configurationsof terminal means mounted on the terminal board. None of theserelatively complex machines could be readily adjusted to handle a widevariation in the location of the terminal means mounted on the statorterminal board.

It is therefore another object of this invention to provide an apparatusfor automatically connecting the intermediate lead wires from multiplecoil portions wound on a stator pole to terminal means mounted on thestator terminal board wherein the apparatus can be readily adjusted toaccount for variation in the placement of the terminal means on theterminal board.

Another problem with the existing method of generating intermediate leadwires is that after the winding is complete, the further manual step ofcutting the intermediate lead wires and permanently affixing the wiresto the terminal board is required. In addition to requiring manualeffort, this latter step also involves some waste of wire.

In view of these considerations, it is still another object of thisinvention to provide methods and apparatus for permanently affixing theintermediate lead wires to the stator terminal board in a singleoperation, and with a minimum of wire waste.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordancewith the principles of the invention by automatically connecting theintermediate lead wires extending between multiple coil portions woundon a pole of a stator core to terminal means located on the statorterminal board in a single operation requiring no further manual effortand which conserves wire relative to existing methods. As will beapparent from the following description, the apparatus of the inventionis located at the winding machine.

The present invention is described with reference to terminal meansgenerally having a hollow housing with a slot extending transverselythrough and axially down opposite walls of the housing, the wallsdefining a slot which is relatively wide at the top and tapered to anarrow base, so that a wire inserted transverse to the slots isfrictionally engaged. Such terminal connection means are widely known inthe field as AMP style terminals. The terminals are mounted on anelectrically nonconducting terminal board which is mounted on an endface of the stator core.

Once a predetermined number of turns of coil wire have been wound on astator pole by a coil winding shuttle, the apparatus of this inventionyieldably grasps the strand of wire extending between the coil and thewinding shuttle and positions the wire within a slot in the terminalmeans located on the stator terminal board. The apparatus retains thestrand in engagement with the terminal means so that when the windingshuttle resumes operation the strand of wire is wrapped tightly againstthe exterior of the terminal means. The apparatus includes wire graspingand positioning means which cooperate with the coil winding shuttle andwhich are movable along three axes relative to the stator terminalboard, so that the intermediate lead wires may be connected to terminalmeans located in any position and with any orientation relative to thestator core that is desirable for the specific stator application.

This invention includes method steps performed in sequence forgenerating the intermediate lead wires and for connecting the wires tothe terminal means. In accordance with the principles of this invention,no cutting of the intermediate lead wire is involved in connecting theintermediate lead wire to the terminal means.

Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantageswill be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an axial end view of an illustrative embodiment of a statorwhose intermediate lead wires have been connected to the terminal meanslocated on the stator terminal board in accordance with the principlesof this invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial axial end view of an alternative positioning of theintermediate lead wire terminal means on the stator terminal board.

FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6 illustrate by fragmentary axial views of the statorend the sequence of steps of connecting the intermediate lead wire tothe terminal means. FIG. 5 includes elements viewed along the line 5--5in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the wire insertion devicetaken along the line 7--7 in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are views similar to that in FIG. 7, showing successivestages in the operation of the wire insertion device.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the wire/hookmechanism of the present invention.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are sectional views illustrating internal details of thewire hook mechanism.

FIG. 13 is an axial end view of the wire hook mechanism.

FIG. 14 is sectional view of the wire hook mechanism taken along theline 14--14 in FIG. 10.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a three-axis platform suitable for usewith the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an axial end view of the wire insertion device of the presentinvention, taken along the line 16--16 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 17 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the wire insertiondevice taken along the line 17--17 in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing an alternate embodiment ofpracticing the method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an axial end view of an illustrative embodiment of a stator30. Coils of wire 50 are wound on each of the upper and lower poles 32of stator 30. An electrically nonconducting terminal board 31 is affixedto each end of stator core 30, and has terminal means 40 mounted atpredetermined positions on terminal board 31. Terminal means 40 ispreferably of the AMP style, having a slot 41 which for purposes ofillustration is aligned parallel to the vertical edge of stator 30. Eachcoil 50 has a start lead 51 and an end lead 52. An intermediate leadwire, generally designated 53, and having portions 53a, 53b, and 53c asshown in FIG. 1, has been connected to terminal means 40 in accordancewith the principles of this invention such that no cutting of theintermediate lead wire is involved.

FIG. 2 shows a terminal means 40 having its slot 41 alignedsubstantially radially with respect to the center of stator core 30. Aswill be described below, the apparatus of the present invention can beused with the terminal means 40 positioned at any location with respectto the horizontal (Y1) and vertical (X1) axes of the stator and withslot 41 at any angular orientation (Θ).

Referring to FIG. 3, a first portion of coil 50 has been wound on statorpole 32 by oscillatory and reciprocatory movement of winding shuttleneedle 60. The shuttle needle 60 is stopped adjacent the end of statorcore 30 which supports terminal means 40. Hook mechanism, generallydesignated 70, carries an elongated rod 71 having at one end a hook 72with a groove 73 (see also FIG. 10). Rod 71 moves translatingly androtatingly from a first position 71 shown in solid lines to a secondposition 71a shown in phantom lines. Shuttle needle 60 then rotatescounterclockwise to a vertical position 60a shown in phantom lines, sothat the strand of wire 53 extending from the first portion of coil 50to shuttle needle 60 can be engaged by groove 73 of hook 72 at position71a when hook 72 retracts.

Referring now to the solid lines in FIG. 4, rod 71 has been retractedfrom its extended position 71a shown in FIG. 3 back to its originalposition 71, so that the tip of hook 72 abuts against support member 100of hook mechanism 70. The strand of wire 53 is not gripped by hook 72,but is capable of sliding movement relative to hook 72, so thatadditional wire 53 may be drawn from shuttle needle 60a. Referring nowto the phantom lines in FIG. 4, hook mechanism 70 is translatedlaterally with respect to stator terminal board 31 to a position 71b,and shuttle needle 60a is rotated clockwise back to its originalposition 60. These movements uncross wire 53 and move the portion ofwire strand 53 between hook 72 and shuttle needle 60 out of the way ofthe wire insertion device, hereinafter described, to a position 53'adjacent terminal means 40.

As shown in FIG. 7, wire insertion device 80 is centered on terminalmeans 40. Insertion device 80 has a pair of wire guide bars 81 carriedon the opposite ends of a diameter of a cylindrical sleeve 82. Sleeve 82is capable of rotating about its axis, as well as translational movementrelative to the stator terminal board 31. A shaft 90 is disposedslidingly and concentrically within sleeve 82, and has a hollow sleeveportion 91 at one end with wire insertion tool 92 mounted at the centerof sleeve 91, so that the centers of guide bars 81 and insertion tool 92lie along a diameter of wire insertion device 80. The inner diameter ofthe sleeve 91 is greater than that of the outer diameter of terminalmeans 40, while the diameter of wire insertion tool 92 is sized tofreely enter the hollow portion of terminal means 40. Sleeve portion 91of shaft 90 has a bevel 93 on its outer surface.

As depicted in FIG. 5 (which includes elements taken along the line 5--5in FIG. 7), wire insertion device 80 has been moved into proximity withthe stator terminal board so that guide bars 81 extend on opposite sidesof the strand of wire 53 and before wire insertion device 80 is centeredon terminal means 40.

In FIG. 6 wire insertion device 80 has been moved to a position centeredon terminal means 40. Centering of wire insertion device 80 on terminalmeans 40 can be achieved, for example, by a numerically controlledthree-axis platform such as that shown in FIG. 15 and generallydesignated 300. Platform 300 is preprogrammed for a predeterminedlocation and orientation of terminal means 40 on terminal board 31,which programming may be readily modified by conventional methods forvariation in the terminal means placement on the terminal board. In afirst embodiment of the present invention, the hook mechanism need onlybe capable of sweeping movement relative to the stator terminal board,in which case wire 53 is engaged by guide bars 81 before wire insertiondevice 80 is centered on the terminal means. In an alternate embodiment,the hook mechanism 70 may be mounted on the slide 301 of platform 300,so that rod 71 is capable of movement in an arcuate path. In this secondembodiment, the wire insertion device, which must be centered on theterminal means, need only be capable of translational movement towardand away from the stator terminal board 31.

Sleeve 82 is rotated through a predetermined arc to bring wire 53 intoalignment with the slot 41 of terminal means 40 by action of wire 53bearing against guide bars 81. During this rotation of sleeve 82, anadditional length of wire 53 is drawn from shuttle needle 60, wire 53freely sliding through the groove 73 of hook 72 and against guide bars81.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, wire insertion device 80 is translatedtoward terminal means 40 so that wire 53 is partially inserted in theopening of the slot 41 of terminal means 40 by the urging of sleeve 82.For clarity in the further description of this invention, the wire maynow be referred to as having the three portions described with respectto FIG. 1: a first portion 53a tautly extending from a first portion ofcoil 50 to terminal means 40; a second portion 53b disposed withinterminal means slot 41; and a third portion 53c extending from terminalmeans 40 to a second portion of coil 50. In FIG. 9 shaft 90 istranslated toward terminal means 40 so that the sleeve portion 91 ofshaft 90 surrounds the exterior of terminal means 40 while insertiontool 92 extends into the interior of terminal means 40, wherebyinsertion tool 92 urges wire portion 53b to the base of slot 41.

After the wire has been inserted in the slot 41 of terminal means 40,wire portion 53c is released from hook mechanism 70, describedhereinafter. The sleeve 91 of shaft 90 urges wire portion 53b toward thebase of the slot 41 of terminal means 40, while the bevel 93 of sleeve91 prevents wire portion 53c from becoming wrapped inadvertantly aroundsleeve 91. Wire insertion tool 92 holds wire portion 53b in engagementwith slot 41 of terminal means 40 while shuttle 60 is positioned tobegin winding the next coil portion of coil 50 on pole 32. Shaft 90 andsleeve 82 are then translated away from terminal means 40 and windingshuttle 60 resumes winding of a second portion of coil 50 on stator pole32, causing strand 53c to become wrapped tightly against the exteriorsurface of terminal means 40. This sequence of events results in acompleted intermediate lead connection as shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 show sectional views and details of hook mechanism70. Hook mechanism 70 includes a support member 100 having a boreextending therethrough with a first portion 101 and a second portion102, such that the second portion of the bore has a larger diameter thanthe first portion. Support member 100 is mounted to air cylinder 104 byfastening means such as bolts 105. Air cylinder 104 is mounted to aplatform capable of movement in either one or three directions, such asplatform 300 of FIG. 15, depending upon the specific embodiment selectedfrom those described heretofore. A sleeve 110 having a groove 111 on itsinner surface comprised of straight portions 111a and helical portions111b, as shown in FIG. 11, is fixedly mounted in the first portion ofbore 101 of support member 100 by fastening means, such as a screw 112.A pin 113 extending through rod 71 slides in groove portions 111a and111b as rod 71 is translated through sleeve 110, whereby the helicalportion 111b of the groove causes rod 71 to rotate about its axis toachieve the desired orientation relative to the stator terminal board,for example position 71a in FIG. 3. The straight portions 111a of thegroove are designed so that rod 71 rotates only after wire 53 iscaptured in the groove 73 of hook 72.

Rod 71 has a pair of slots 120 and 121 through its thickness at twolocations as shown in FIG. 10. A pair of plates 130 are positioned onopposite sides of rod 71 as shown in FIG. 13, the plates being joined bypins 131 and 132 extending through the slots 120 and 121 so that theplates are slideably movable relative to rod 71. Plates 130 have asloped surface 133 near the groove 73 in hook 72 and recesses 134located near the end opposite hook 72.

Bell-shaped member 140 is affixed to the end of rod 71 opposite the hookend 72, member 140 being fixedly secured to the end of rod 71 with aretainer ring 141. An outer race of bearing 142 is fixedly secured tomember 140 by a retainer ring 143. The inner race of bearing 142 isfixedly secured to the piston rod 144 of air cylinder 104 by a suitablefastener, for example, a nut 145. This arrangement permits thetranslational movement of piston rod 144 of air cylinder 104 to beconverted into translational and rotational movement of rod 71 as itslides along groove 111 of sleeve 110.

Rod 71 has a bore 75 extending inward from the end affixed to member 140to a depth at least as deep as the end of slot 121. A compression spring150 is disposed within the bore 75 of rod 71, with one end of the springfixed to a screw 151 mounted in bore 75 and the other end urging pin 132against the end of the slot 121 nearest the hook end 72. Spring 150therefore biases plates 130 to a position clear of wire engaging hook72.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 14, a forked bell crank 160 is pivotallymounted in an opening 103 of support member 100 by pin 161. A first endof forked bell crank 160 is pivotally secured to a piston arm 170 of anair cylinder 171 by a pin 172. A second end of the forked bell crankextends into the second portion of the bore 102 in support member 100through opening 103. The tips 162 of the second end of the forked bellcrank engage recesses 134 in plates 130. The tips 162 of the second endof the forked member 160 are shown in FIG. 14 engaged in the recesses134 of plates 130.

Referring again to FIG. 10, when the wire 53 is engaged in the groove 73of hook 72 during the wire insertion phase, air cylinder 104 keepspiston rod 144 retracted, so that the tip of hook 72 bears againstsupport member 100 of hook mechanism 70. Spring 150 keeps plates 130clear of the groove 73 of hook 72 during the movement of rod 71 tocapture wire 53. During the wire-engaging operation of the hookmechanism, forked bell crank 160 remains in the position shown inphantom lines in FIG. 10. Once the wire is inserted in terminal means40, hook 72 must release wire portion 53c. First, piston arm 170 isretracted in cylinder 171 so that forked bell crank 160 rotates untilits tips 162 are disposed within the recesses 134 of plates 130. Pistonrod 144 of cylinder 104 is then slowly extended, thereby extending rod71 and plates 130 in unison. However, after a short distance of travelthe tips 162 of forked member 160 engage the ends of recesses 134 andprevent further extension of plates 130, while rod 71 continues toextend until pins 131 and 132 abut against the ends of slots 120 and121. The relative motion between plates 130 and rod 71 results in theconfiguration shown in FIG. 12, such that wire 53 slides off the slopedsurface 133 of plates 130 when winding shuttle 60 resumes winding thesecond portion of coil 50.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, the structure of wire insertion device 80is shown, wherein sleeve 82 and shaft 90 are carried in support member180 to perform the functions heretofore described. Support member 180 ismounted to a pair of cylinders 190 and 200 by bolts 181. Cylinders 190and 200 are in turn mounted on support plate 210 by bolts 211. Dependingupon the specific embodiment of the wire insertion device selected fromthose heretofore discussed, support plate 210 may be mounted on a slide301 by bolts 212 which slide may be movable along three axes, as in FIG.15, or simply capable of translation from a first position near thestator terminal board to a second position away from the stator terminalboard.

Support member 180 has three bores 182, 183, and 184 leading from itsfront face to a void 185. Rod extensions 191 and 201 mounted on thepiston rods 192 and 202 of air cylinders 190 and 200, respectively, areslideably supported in the bores 182, 183 in support member 180. Sleeve82 carrying guide bars 81 and shaft 90 is supported in bore 184 forsliding and rotating movement about its axis. Sleeve 82 has a groove 83comprising straight and helical portions located on its inner bore 84. Apin 93 fixed on shaft 90 is slideably engaged in groove 83. Sleeve 82also has a circumferential notch 85 near the end of sleeve 82 oppositethe end on which the guide bars 81 are mounted. Arm 220 mounted on therod extension 201 of piston arm 202 has a projection disposed in thenotch 85 of sleeve 82 so that translational movement of piston arm 202imparts translational and rotational movement to sleeve 82 as groove 83slides along pin 93. A first straight portion of groove 83 providestranslational movement of sleeve 82 towards stator terminal board 31;the helical portion of groove 83 rotates sleeve 82 and guide bars 81 toalign the wire 53 with the slot 41 in terminal means 40. Thus, bychanging the helical pitch of the groove 83 in sleeve 82, the wire 53can be aligned for any predetermined orientation of the slot 41 ofterminal means 40.

Arm 230 connects shaft 90 at the end opposite wire insertion tool 92 tothe rod extension 191 of piston arm 192. Shaft 90 is mounted in a collar231 of arm 230 by a nut 232, so that shaft 90 is capable only oftranslational movement. Sleeve 82 may be employed solely to align wire53 with the slot 41 of terminal means 40, or may additionally act topartially insert the wire 53 into the slot 41 of terminal means 40.Shaft 90 is extended by the action of piston arm 192 through arm 230 tocomplete the insertion of the wire 53 into slot 41. Shaft 90 and sleeve82 remain in position while hook mechanism 70 releases wire portion 53cand shuttle 60 is positioned to begin winding the next portion of coil50 on stator pole 32. At this point, wire 53 is loosely wrapped aroundterminal means 40, but positioned so that it will not disengage fromterminal means 40 when shaft 90 and sleeve 82 are retracted. Shaft 90and sleeve 82 are retracted only when shuttle 60 resumes winding thenext portion of coil 50, resulting in wire portion 53c being drawntautly against the exterior of terminal means 40.

In the embodiment of wire insertion device 80 wherein the wire insertiondevice is centered on terminal means 40, hook mechanism 70 captures wire53 and positions it so that when sleeve 82 of wire insertion device 80is translated toward wire 53, guide bars 81 will pass on opposite sidesof wire 53 (similar to FIG. 5, but centered and at some distance awayfrom terminal means 40). In this case, piston 200 is actuated to advancesleeve 82, whereby pin 93 will cause sleeve 82 to first translate,rotate, and then translate as groove 83 travels along pin 93. At theconclusion of this movement, the guide bars 81 of sleeve 82 have not yetengaged wire 53, but are simply positioned on opposite sides of wire 53.Piston 192 is then actuated to translate shaft 90 forward. Because ofthe engagement of pin 93 in groove 83, the outwards translation of shaft90 will cause sleeve 82 to rotate once again, thereby aligning wire 53with slots 41 of terminal means 40. As shaft 90 completes its forwardtranslation, insertion tool 92 contacts wire 53, inserts it into slot 41and then urges wire 53 toward the base of slot 41 of terminal means 40.In this embodiment, sleeve 82 serves only to align wire 53 and does notassist in inserting wire 53 into slot 41.

In the embodiment of the wire insertion device wherein the wireinsertion device is not centered on the terminal means, for example, asis shown in FIG. 5, it is necessary to have the base of cylinder 200mounted on an additional cylinder in order to impart furthertranslational movement to wire insertion device 80 to insert the wire 53into the slot 41 of terminal means 40. This further translation must beperformed after the wire insertion device has been aligned with terminalmeans 40, otherwise guide bars 81 might abut against terminal means 40during the step of centering the wire insertion device on the slot 41.In this instance, the guide bars 81 of sleeve 82 engage and rotate wire53 to the correct orientation while at some distance away from and whilenot yet centered on the terminal means. Wire insertion device 80 is thencentered on the terminal means. This is followed by translation of wiredevice 80 towards stator terminal board 31 by actuating the additionalcylinder (so that the end face of sleeve 82 is brought adjacent toterminal means 40), thereby preventing wire 53 from slipping off guidebars 81 during the successive insertion stage. Finally, piston 192 isactuated to translate shaft 90, thereby inserting wire 53 into the slot41 of terminal means 40. In this instance, the stroke of piston 192 isonly long enough to cause pin 93 to slide in the first straight portionof groove 83, and thereby avoids rotating sleeve 82 again. Analternative is to accomplish the additional translation toward theterminal means 40 by movement of the platform 300 of FIG. 15 towards theterminal board after guide bars 81 have been rotated to align the wire53 with slot 41.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention, for use whereorientation of the slot 41 in terminal means 40 does not require thatsharp changes in the direction of the wire be made, includes a secondhook mechanism and a guide placed over the terminal means. The secondhook mechanism is located on a platform 300, such as that shown in FIG.15, so that the hook mechanism is movable along three axes. After thewire strand 53 has been uncrossed, as shown by the phantom lines in FIG.4, the second hook mechanism captures the wire and aligns it with aguide placed over the terminal means by moving parallel to the statorterminal board. The second hook mechanism then moves inward toward theterminal board so that the wire contacts the guide and is partiallyinserted in the slot 41 of terminal means 40. Wire insertion device 80then completes the wire insertion.

In another alternate embodiment, shown in FIG. 18, a guide rod 250 ispositioned near the slot 41 in terminal 40. After the hook mechanism hascaptured the strand of wire 53, the hook mechanism moves parallel to thestator terminal board so that the wire contacts guide rod 250. Furthermovement of the hook mechanism parallel to the stator terminal boardaligns the wire 53 with the slot 41 in terminal means 40. The hookmechanism then moves inward toward the stator terminal board, causingthe wire 53 to become partially inserted in slot 41. Wire insertion iscompleted by wire insertion device 80. For the purposes of thisembodiment, guide bar 250 can be an integrally molded portion ofterminal means 40.

We claim:
 1. A method of winding a coil having two successively woundportions onto a stator core and securing an intermediate lead wireextending between said coil portions to terminal means associated withthe stator core, said method comprising a series of steps of:providing awinding shuttle; actuating the winding shuttle to wind a first coilportion onto said stator core; stopping said winding shuttle adjacentsaid terminal means; yieldably grasping a strand of wire between saidwinding shuttle and said first coil portion; drawing a length of wirefrom the winding shuttle to define a strand of wire extending betweensaid winding shuttle and said first coil portion; engaging said strandof wire at two points of engagement along said strand, said two pointsof engagement rotatable about a common axis; rotating said two points ofengagement about said common axis to align said strand of wire with saidterminal means; moving said strand of wire into engagement with saidterminal means; and actuating the winding shuttle to wind a next coilportion onto said stator core, said strand of wire being retained bysaid terminal means.
 2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein saidterminal means includes a slot and wherein the step of drawing a lengthof wire from the winding shuttle to define a strand of wire extendingbetween said winding shuttle and said first coil portion comprises thesteps of:providing hook means; moving said hook means along a path sothat said hook means yieldably grasps said strand of wire between saidwinding shuttle and said first coil portion, said strand of wireincreasing in length as said hook means moves along said path.
 3. Themethod as defined in claim 1 wherein said terminal means includes a slotand wherein the step of moving said strand of wire into engagement withsaid terminal means comprises the steps of:centering said two points ofengagement about said terminal means; contacting said strand of wire tosaid terminal means so that said strand of wire is aligned with saidslot of said terminal means; providing a wire insertion device; andcontacting said wire insertion device to said strand of wire to urgesaid strand of wire into said slot of said terminal means.
 4. In amethod of winding a coil having multiple portions onto a pole of astator core and securing an intermediate lead wire extending between thecoil portions to a terminal means mounted on the end of the stator core,the terminal means having an exterior, a series of stepscomprising:providing a winding shuttle; actuating the winding shuttle towind a first coil portion onto said stator core; stopping said windingshuttle adjacent the end of said stator core whereon said terminal meansis mounted; providing hook means; moving said hook means along a path sothat said hook means yieldably grasps a strand of wire at a first pointof engagement between said winding shuttle and said first coil portion,said strand of wire increasing in length as said hook means moves alongsaid path, said path being disposed proximate to said terminal means;engaging said strand of wire at a second point of engagement; movingsaid strand of wire into alignment with said terminal means; engagingsaid strand of wire with said terminal means; and actuating the windingshuttle to wind a next coil portion onto said stator core, said strandof wire being wrapped tightly against the exterior of said terminalmeans.
 5. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein the step of movingsaid strand of wire into alignment with said terminal means comprisesthe step of:rotating said strand of wire between said two points ofengagement.
 6. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein said terminalmeans includes a slot and wherein the step of engaging said strand ofwire with said terminal means further comprises the steps of:contactingsaid strand of wire to said terminal means so that said strand of wireis partially engaged in said slot of said terminal means; providing awire insertion device; and contacting said wire insertion device to saidstrand of wire to urge said strand of wire into said slot of saidterminal means.
 7. In a method of winding a coil having multipleportions onto a pole of a stator core and securing an intermediate leadwire extending between the coil portions to a terminal means mounted onthe end of the stator core, the terminal means having an exterior, aseries of steps comprising:providing a winding shuttle; actuating saidwinding shuttle to wind a first coil portion onto said stator core;stopping said winding shuttle adjacent the end of said stator corewhereon said terminal means is mounted; providing a hook means;yieldably grasping a strand of wire between said winding shuttle andsaid first coil portion with said hook means; moving said hook meansalong a path to draw a length of wire from said winding shuttle tolengthen said strand of wire extending between said first coil portionand said hook means; moving said hook means to a position so that saidstrand of wire is located proximate said terminal means; aligning saidstrand of wire with said terminal means; inserting said strand of wireinto said terminal means; and releasing said strand of wire from saidhook means while retaining said strand of wire in said terminal means sothat when said winding shuttle begins winding a next coil portion ontosaid stator core, said strand of wire is wrapped tightly against theexterior of said terminal means.
 8. In a method of winding a coil havingmultiple portions onto a pole of a stator core and securing anintermediate lead wire extending between the coil portions to a terminalmeans mounted on the end of the stator core, the terminal means havingan exterior, a series of steps comprising:providing a winding shuttle;actuating said winding shuttle to wind a first coil portion onto saidstator core; stopping said winding shuttle adjacent the end of saidstator core whereon said terminal means is mounted; providing a hookmeans; engaging a strand of wire at a first point of engagement betweensaid winding shuttle and said first coil portion with said hook means;engaging said strand of wire at a second point of engagement along saidstrand of wire, said first and second points of engagement rotatableabout a common axis; centering said two points of engagement about saidterminal means; aligning said strand of wire with said terminal means;inserting said strand of wire into said terminal means; and releasingsaid strand of wire from said hook means while retaining said strand ofwire in said terminal means so that when said winding shuttle beginswinding a next coil portion onto said stator core, said strand of wireis wrapped tightly against the exterior of said terminal means.
 9. Themethod as defined in claim 8 wherein the step of aligning said strand ofwire with said terminal means comprises the step of rotating said twopoints of engagement about said common axis to align said strand of wirewith said slot of said terminal means.
 10. In a method of winding a coilhaving multiple portions onto a pole of a stator core and securing anintermediate lead wire extending between the coil portions to a terminalmeans mounted on the end of the stator core, the terminal means havingan exterior and a slot, a series of steps comprising:providing a windingshuttle; actuating said winding shuttle to wind a first coil portiononto said stator core; stopping said winding shuttle adjacent the end ofsaid stator core whereon said terminal means is mounted; providing ahook means; engaging a strand of wire between said winding shuttle andsaid first coil portion with said hook moving said hook means to aposition so that said strand of wire is located proximate said terminalmeans; aligning said strand of wire with said terminal means; contactingsaid strand of wire to said terminal means so that said strand of wireis partially engaged with said slot of said terminal means; providing awire insertion device; contacting said wire insertion device to saidstrand of wire to urge said strand of wire into said slot of saidterminal means and; releasing said strand of wire from said hook meanswhile retaining said strand of wire in said terminal means so that whensaid winding shuttle begins winding a next coil portion onto said statorcore, said strand of wire is wrapped tightly against the exterior ofsaid terminal means.
 11. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein saidstrand of wire between said two points of engagement has a mid-point andthe step of rotating said strand of wire between said two points ofengagement further comprises rotating said strand of wire about saidmid-point.
 12. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein the step ofrotating said strand of wire between said two points of engagementfurther comprises rotating said strand of wire about said first point ofengagement.
 13. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein the step ofrotating said strand of wire between said two points of engagementfurther comprises rotating said strand of wire about said second pointof engagement.
 14. The method as defined in claim 8 wherein saidterminal means includes a slot and wherein the step of inserting saidstrand of wire into said terminal means comprises the stepsof:contacting said strand of wire to said terminal means so that saidstrand of wire is partially engaged in said slot of said terminal means;providing a wire insertion device; and contacting said wire insertiondevice to said strand of wire to urge said strand of wire into said slotof said terminal means.
 15. In a method of winding a coil havingmultiple portions onto a pole of a stator core and securing anintermediate lead wire extending between the coil portions to a terminalmeans mounted on the end of the stator core, the terminal meansincluding an exterior and a slot having a longitudinal axis, a series ofsteps comprising:providing a winding shuttle; actuating said windingshuttle to wind a first coil portion onto said stator core; stoppingsaid winding shuttle adjacent the end of said stator core whereon saidterminal means is mounted; providing a hook means; engaging a strand ofwire at a first point of engagement between said winding shuttle andsaid first coil portion with said hook means; engaging said strand ofwire at a second point of engagement along said strand of wire, saidstrand of wire located between said first and second points ofengagement having a longitudinal axis, said first and second points ofengagement rotatable about a common axis; rotating said strand of wirerelative to said terminal means so that said longitudinal axis of saidstrand of wire is parallel to said longitudinal axis of said slot;aligning said strand of wire with said terminal means; inserting saidstrand of wire into said terminal means; and releasing said strand ofwire from said hook means while retaining said strand of wire in saidterminal means so that when said winding shuttle begins winding a nextcoil portion onto said stator core, said strand of wire is wrappedtightly against the exterior of said terminal means.
 16. The method asdefined in claim 14 wherein the step of aligning said strand of wirewith said terminal means further comprises the step of centering saidtwo points of engagement about said terminal means.